On Tuesday 10th October, Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) held an educational event at the Molineux Stadium and worked in partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Wolves Community Trust to educate local young people about the dangers of racism. Over 100 young people from local primary schools attended the event which saw the Year 5/6’s take part in an educational workshop, watch the SRtRC educational film and then take part in a Q&A session with a panel of special guests.

Young people from Eastfield Primary, St Luke’s Primary, St John’s Primary and Featherstone Academy arrived at the Molineux Stadium in the afternoon and headed to the Northbank Bar where they would spend the remainder of the afternoon. After a quick introduction to the afternoon the young people went into an educational workshop which was conducted by Campaign Worker, Ben Holman, from SRtRC. The workshop made young people explore stereotypes and think critically about the way in which we stereotype. The young people engaged in thoughtful and honest conversation with their peers about the dangers of stereotyping.

The young people further developed their understanding by watching the 22-minute Show Racism the Red Card educational film, which provides an excellent introduction to the subject of racism.

The young people had been asked throughout the afternoon to start thinking of questions that they would like to ask the panel of special guests and with suspicion building among the young people of who might be attending the Q&A it was time to introduce the panel.

Lee Wiggetts-Clinton from the Unite the Union, was the first to sit on the panel to answer the question from the young people. Lee was joined by former Arsenal, Cambridge United and West Bromwich Albion player Brendon Batson, who was kind enough to take the time out of his day to sit on the panel for the Q&A session. Also joining the panel was Kortney Hause and Bright Enobakhare who both play in the first team at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

Young people from each school put forward a variety of questions to the panel regarding racism. When you were younger did you suffer from racism? What would you do if you suffered racism? How did racism affect your football? Were just a few examples of the questions that the panel were taking it in turn to answer. The panel explained to the young people what they should do if they experience racism and who they can report it to. The panel also provided brilliant advice on what each person can do to tackle racism. Prizes were given out to the three best questions asked to the panel. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC kindly donated a signed ball that was given out to the best question asked on the day.

Show Racism the Red Card would like to thank everyone at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC for their support in organising the event and a special thank you to Tom Warren and Lee Smith who made the event possible. The power of role-models to educate young people should never be underestimated, therefore, a massive thank you to Lee, Brendon, Bright and Kortney. And finally, Show Racism the Red Card would like to thank all the young people for their honest engagement from start to finish.